Thief smashes jeweler's front door and makes off with $5k worth of watches
The thief smashed through the jeweler's front door, setting off the burglary alarm.
Photo courtesy of Ricco DeCola
DeCola said the thief made off with between $5,000 and $6,000 worth of merchandise.
Photo courtesy of Ricco DeCola
Ricco DeCola, the store's co-owner, said the thief made off with merchandise worth $5,000 to $6,000.
"They were all in mahogany solid wood boxes so they got all of that too," he said.
DeCola said the watches were part of the signature DeCola series, designed by the Gold Crown chain and manufactured exclusively for DeCola's store by a Swiss company.
"They're pretty unique so I think if anybody out here tries to sell them, they're going to be found out," he said.
Between the front door and the glass case, DeCola estimated the thief caused several hundred dollars in damages, but less than $1,000.
Luckily, the jeweler's most valuable items were locked away safely.
"Everything pretty valuable is in our safe, so there's nothing (for a thief) to do but make a mess," he said.
The Ann Arbor Police Department is investigating the incident. There are no suspects.
DeCola said the watches that were stolen were part of a signature series exclusive to Gold Crown Jewelers.
Photos courtesy of Ricco DeCola
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Comments
Ann English
Sun, Mar 3, 2013 : 12:58 a.m.
Now I remember where it is. Not practically next door to Dairy Queen (at Collingwood and Stadium) but across from that area, at Winewood and Stadium, where a gas station used to be; I think it might have been a BP, but I do remember buying gas there before it became Gold Crown Jewelers. Citgo, Sunoco and Speedway stations within sight down Stadium. Not an area where several jewelry stores compete for customers.
Ann English
Mon, Mar 4, 2013 : 9:47 p.m.
So there are competitors further east on Stadium? They'll know what kind of watches and jewelry boxes to watch out for, in case the burglar is careless enough to visit them during business hours. Someone with a hard drug addiction?
fman
Mon, Mar 4, 2013 : 12:38 p.m.
Actually there are a few Jewelry stores down stadium!
Red Floyd
Sat, Mar 2, 2013 : 2:57 p.m.
It kinda looks like the thief broke OUT of the store, rather than into it...
cibachrome
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 8 p.m.
I just bought two similar watches marked down to $19.95 at Wally World. I like the push button Indiglo feature.
fman
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 8:10 p.m.
Swiss made watch at Wally World huh? Ok bud!
Top Cat
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 6:53 p.m.
We truly live in desperate times.
justcurious
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 6:47 p.m.
Um, cameras catch anything?
An Arborigine
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 6:41 p.m.
Were watches matching the description of the "signature collection" spotted on E. Washington?
Zhuk
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 6:28 p.m.
Its gotta be a mistake... the guy(s) who stole them probably arent selling them on E. Washington.
justwondering
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 6:10 p.m.
What is the map pointing to on E. Washington St.?
Kody Klein
Fri, Mar 1, 2013 : 6:43 p.m.
Thanks for pointing that out. I updated it with the right map.